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Diplomatic documents · 1989–1990

Chronicle

A selection of telegrams, memos, minutes and letters from embassies and foreign ministries in eleven countries, set against the events from autumn 1989 to German unity.

Documents per weekEvent
Sep 1989OctNovDecJan 1990FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovHungary opens its border to Austria for GDR citizensMonday demonstration in LeipzigHonecker is replaced by Egon Krenz as SED General SecretaryThe Berlin Wall opensKohl presents his Ten-Point PlanThe Brandenburg Gate reopensOttawa: agreement on the Two-plus-Four talksFirst free elections to the GDR People’s ChamberFirst Two-plus-Four ministerial meeting in BonnMonetary, economic and social union enters into forceArkhyz, Caucasus: Kohl and Gorbachev agree on a united Germany in NATOUnification Treaty signedTwo-plus-Four Treaty signed in MoscowGerman reunificationGerman–Polish Border Treaty signed

Brandenburger Tor, 30 Jahre Mauerfall (2019): New York-air, CC BY-SA 4.0

  1. September 1989

  2. Hungary opens its border to Austria for GDR citizens

  3. AustriaMemododis.ch/52927

    Memo by the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Bereits im September 1989 schrieb ein weitsichtiger Diplomat des österreichischen Aussenministeriums eine ausführliche Analyse, in der er zu dem Schluss kam, dass die Frage der deutschen Wiedervereinigung in den kommenden Jahren ein bestimmendes Thema in der internationalen Politik sein wird.

    Thomas Nowotny, Austria · Ministry of Foreign AffairsAustria · Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Vienna, 19 September 1989

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  4. Monday demonstration in Leipzig

  5. Honecker is replaced by Egon Krenz as SED General Secretary

  6. The Berlin Wall opens

  7. Kohl presents his Ten-Point Plan

  8. December 1989

  9. Federal Republic of GermanyMemododis.ch/52950

    Memo for the State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of the FRG, Jürgen Sudhoff

    Bericht über die kühle Reaktion der italienischen Regierung auf die Ereignisse in Deutschland. Italien messe der Stabilität in Europa sowie dem Fortschritt der europäischen Integration und dem KSZE-Prozess grosse Bedeutung bei.

    Beate Grzeski, Karl Heinz Kuhna, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign OfficeJürgen Sudhoff, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

    Bonn, 18 December 1989

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  10. The Brandenburg Gate reopens

  11. February 1990

  12. Ottawa: agreement on the Two-plus-Four talks

  13. United StatesMemoSensitivedodis.ch/52917

    Memorandum for the President of the United States, George H. W. Bush

    Discussion of the U.S. position in the upcoming Two-Plus-Four Talks on German reunification, particularly in light of Soviet concerns

    Brent Scowcroft, USA United States of America · White HouseGeorge Herbert Walker Bush, USA United States of America · White House

    Washington, D. C., 19 February 1990

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  14. March 1990

  15. First free elections to the GDR People’s Chamber

  17. First Two-plus-Four ministerial meeting in Bonn

  18. Monetary, economic and social union enters into force

  19. Arkhyz, Caucasus: Kohl and Gorbachev agree on a united Germany in NATO

  20. Unification Treaty signed

  21. Two-plus-Four Treaty signed in Moscow

  22. German reunification

  23. German–Polish Border Treaty signed